Hairdress-shaping device, use of said  hairdress-shaping device for shaping of hairdresses, as well as method for shaping of a  hairdress by means of the hairdress-shaping device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for shaping and styling the hairs, and specifically for forming a so-called ponytail, as well as to the use of the device in accordance with the invention for shaping and styling hairs and forming a hair-style, and a method for forming a hairstyle, and more specifically, a pony tail. 
     The hairstyling device ( 1 ) in accordance with the invention particularly serves for shaping a so-called ponytail, and has an essentially rotationally symmetrical base body ( 10 ), the base body being provided with an attachment surface ( 20 ) at a front surface thereof, the attachment surface being meant for mounting over the head of a person to be hair-dressed. Further, the device includes a shaft ( 30 ), having longitudinal grooves ( 40 ) provided on its surface. The longitudinal grooves ( 40 ) extend over the surface in such a manner that at least one component of their extension direction lies in the longitudinal direction ( 11 ) of the base body ( 10 ). Further, the shaft is formed concavely in its longitudinal section, on a sectionalized basis.

The current invention relates to a device for shaping the hairs, and in particular, for the production of a so-called pony tail. Further, the invention relates to the use of the hair-styling device in accordance with the invention, for the shaping and forming a hairstyle, and a method for forming a hairstyle, specifically, a ponytail.

Many people, especially women, are fond of keeping a long hair style, and use ponytails. This hairstyle combines a visually appealing appearance with the look of longer hairs, provides ease of styling the hairs, and also the possibility to loosen the braid quickly and easily. In addition, this hairstyle offers the possibility to bundle and tie longer hairs at the back of the head, and thus avoids the discomfort arising due to hairs hanging on the front of the face.

However, especially in the case of thinner hair, it is desired that the area of pony tail which is bundled together by a tensioning element, for example a hair tie or a rubber band, should have a more voluminous appearance. Many pony tail carriers, especially women, desire styling and shaping of this region of hairs, which generally has a visually powerful appearance.

For the purpose of volume enlargement, a device is known which comprises a shaft, where transverse grooves are provided/arranged along the circumference of the shaft. These transverse grooves extend radially inwards. In an alternative embodiment, such elements are also provided with circumferentially distributed knobs, which form a similar structure. For example, such a volume-enhancing element is disclosed in the publication no. WO2006/055637 A1. However, a disadvantage of this product is the lack of effect on an attractive plait course.

Such known elements, however, exhibit the disadvantage, that practically they facilitate only inadequate draping of the hairs at or around the volume-element, with the secure fixing of a tensioning element. This is insufficient for completely covering the volume element with the hairs. In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a device for shaping and styling the hairs, according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the device for styling and shaping the hairs are provided in dependent claims 2 to 8. Additionally, use of the device in accordance with the invention, for forming a hair style, as well as a method for forming a hair style, particularly a ponytail, by means of the device in accordance with the invention, is provided.

The device according to the invention is designed, in particular, for shaping a so-called pony tail. Essentially, and preferably, the device has a completely rotationally symmetrical base body, which has an attachment surface at one facing end, for abutting against the head of a person. Further, the base body includes a shaft, on whose surface longitudinal grooves are formed. The longitudinal grooves extend over the shaft, such that at least one component of their extension direction is along the longitudinal direction of the base body. Further, in accordance with the invention, the shaft is formed section-wise concavely in the longitudinal section. Therefore, the basic body is, preferably rotationally symmetrical, except the longitudinal grooves provided on its surface. As mentioned, the grooves extend with at least one component of their extension direction being in the longitudinal direction of the base body. Further, preferably, the grooves do not deviate more than a maximum of 20 degrees from the direction of the rotational or longitudinal axis of the base body. In a specifically preferred embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention, the longitudinal grooves extend parallel to the longitudinal or rotational axis of the base body. The designated longitudinal direction is, thus, the coordinate direction, which extends along the axis of rotational symmetry of the base body. Due to the essentially rotationally symmetrical design and the concave shape, as viewed in the longitudinal direction, a constriction or tapering of the base body along the longitudinal axis is resulted, starting from the attachment surface, eventually followed by a widening of the cross-section of the base body. Thus, in the longitudinal section, the base body is formed with a hyperbolically extending area. This provides a parabolic profile on the surface of one half of the base body, in its longitudinal section. That parabolic profile transits into a turning point at the free end of the basic body lying opposite to the attachment surface. This so called pony tail volume enhancer thus has two interconnected symbiotic interconnected regions, which are combined in a biomorphic mold. Due to the concavity of the base body, a tensioning/clamping means, such as a hair tie, can be secured without slipping-off, in a form-fitting manner to the device. The longitudinal grooves, provided on the surface of the base body facilitate secure fixing of hairs draped on the device in accordance with invention, on the circumference of the device, in order to hold the hairs in a desired position. Further, due to the larger diameter realized by means of the device, in the region of the ponytail where the hairs are bundled and tied together, it results in a more voluminous appearance of the hairs in the region where they are bundled, as well as in the adjoining areas of the pony tail.

The parabolic profile of the surface of the base body exhibits a biomorphic shape. When a tensioning means, such as a hair tie or a band acts radially inwardly on the device, the biomorphic shape applies/attaches the hairs to the device in such a manner that a perfect/desirable course of a pony tail is formed.

In an advantageous embodiment, the attachment surface also has a concavely extending surface area. Preferably, the entire attachment surface has a concave shape/profile. In a case where the device in accordance to the invention has a hollow design, the attachment surface is designed and shaped only annularly. The concavity created by the attachment surface corresponds to the negative form of a ball segment. The plane in which the edge of the attachment surface facing the head extends, is perpendicular to the rotational or longitudinal axis of the base body. The concavity of the attachment surface is meant to facilitate application of the inventive device to the head of a user in an ergonomic manner. Further, the attachment surface passes in a flowing transition into the adjoining region, i.e., the shaft.

The shaft exhibits a diameter D_(min) in the deepest region of its concavity. Further, the longitudinal grooves have a depth T_(r) with respect to the surface of the shaft. The depth T_(r) should be in relation to the minimum diameter D_(min) such that the ratio T_(r)/D_(min)=0.02 to 0.08. The lowest point of concavity is located on the outer surface of the shaft, outside the grooves. The depth T_(r) of a longitudinal groove is to be measured between the deepest point of the longitudinal groove and the adjacent region which defines the maximum radial extension in the respective cross-section.

Preferably, the longitudinal grooves are rounded in the circumferential direction. This effectively means that the grooves pass in a gentle transition into the surface of the shaft. Further, preferably, the radius of rounding of the grooves should be the same as their depth T_(r) relative to the shaft, or, 0.7 to 1.5 times as large as the depth T_(r). Owed to the distribution of the longitudinal grooves around the circumference of the shaft, ribs are formed between them, which extend on one side towards the attachment surface and on the other side towards the free end of the shaft.

Preferably, a convex-shaped longitudinal section adjoins the concave-shaped longitudinal section. The shaft has a diameter D_(min) in the region of the deepest point of its concavity, and a maximum diameter D_(max) in the region of convex-shaped longitudinal section, and the maximum diameter to the minimum diameter is in the following ratio: D_(max)/D_(min)=0.6 to 1.5.

The concave-shaped longitudinal section, which provides concavity to the shaft, is connected to the convex-shaped longitudinal section via a turning point (i.e., point of inflexion).

The length of the hair-styling device L in accordance with the invention should be in the following ratio to the diameter D_(min):L/D_(min)=0.9 to 2.1.

The length L of the device, therefore, is defined in such a manner that the device is long enough to fix a tensioning element, such as, for example, a hair tie or a band, to the shaft, without a region of the shaft lying between the hairs being apparently visible, thereby, avoiding the exposure of the use of the device, when applied.

The material of the hair-styling device according to the invention should be dermatologically compatible. A polymer is particularly suitable and appropriate here. Further, the device can either be designed as a one-piece mold, or, individual elements or regions of the device can be formed and realized as individual segments or modules, which may then be firmly connected or joined to one another using a corresponding fixing method.

Specifically, when the device in accordance with the invention is formed as a single-piece mold, it can be an injection mold.

The material of the device should have a hardness of 20 to 70 Shore A. This ensures that during the tensioning action/force applied by a hair tie, depending on the magnitude/strength of the tensioning force, an additional depression/trough is created within the shaft area, within which the hairs are pinched and fixed. That improves the fixation effect on the hairs.

Overall, a device is made available, through which a visually appealing shape or form of a pony tail can be obtained/realized, in a simple and cost-effective manner. Additionally, due to tapering of the device in the region of the shaft, a secure fixing of the device inside the hairs, as well as a secure fixing of the hairs themselves can be ensured.

Further, the invention relates to the use of the hair-styling device for shaping the hairs and forming a hairstyle, specifically a pony tail.

Further, the invention is directed to a method for forming a hairstyle, particularly a ponytail, wherein a hair-styling device in accordance with the invention, through its contact surface, is applied to the head of a person/user to be hair-dressed, and the hairs of the person to be hair-dressed are draped on the device in such a manner that, that the shaft of the device is substantially covered with the hairs, and then a tensioning means, such as a hair tie or a band, is applied or wrapped on the hairs draped on the device in accordance with the invention, such that the tensioning means applies a force radially inwards, towards the hairstyling device.

Consequently, a stable and voluminous ponytail can be easily achieved.

The device in accordance with the invention is accustomed to everyday usage for styling the hairs, through which a perfectly shaped ponytail can be created in a few seconds. Further, the invention is not only limited to creation/formation of a ponytail, but can also be generally used, for example, to form a chignon or a bun. Further, instead of conventional backcombing/processing of the hairs, for obtaining a large hair volume, the inventive device is only required to be arranged and positioned properly, to obtain a voluminous ponytail with a push-up effect. Therefore, use of cost-intensive hair-care products which are often not dermatologically compatible, can be avoided.

Hereinafter, the invention is explained with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of the device for shaping and styling the hairs, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the device along the section AA′ shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the device for hair-styling, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the device for hair-styling according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the device for hair-styling in accordance with the invention.

First, the essential elements of the invention would be explained, with respect to the different views of the device 1 for hair-styling in accordance with the invention depicted in the figures. This device 1 includes a base body 10, as shown. An attachment surface 20 and a shaft 30 are arranged adjacent to each other, or engaging with each other, in the longitudinal direction 11 of the base body 10. Altogether, the device resembles a bell-shaped structure. The shaft 30 includes a concave-shaped longitudinal section 31, as well as an adjoining convex-shaped longitudinal section 35, which is connected to the concave-shaped longitudinal section 31 via a turning point 34 (i.e., point of inflexion).

It is apparent that the base body 10 has an essentially rotationally symmetric design, with the rotational axis extending parallel to the longitudinal length 1′. The concave-shaped longitudinal section 31 has a concavity 32, which has its deepest point 33 approximately lying at the center of the shaft 30.

Due to the rotationally symmetrical design of the base body 10, it is self-evident that the deepest point 33 as well as the turning point (point of inflexion) 34 mentioned herein, are not to be understood as geometric points, but, in the cross-section, circumferentially around the shaft 30, these points define circles.

The attachment surface 20, which delimits base body 10 at one end, also has a concavely extending surface 21, as particularly seen in FIG. 2. The concavely extending surface 21 adapts the device 1 to the curvature of the head of a person to be hair-dressed.

Longitudinal grooves 40 are provided on the surface of the shaft 30, which are arranged circumferentially around the shaft. In their longitudinal direction, these grooves 40 extend parallel to the longitudinal direction 11, or to the axis of rotation AA′. As seen, the grooves 40 extend along a direction towards the attachment surface 20, as well as towards the free end 60 positioned opposite to the attachment surface 20.

Due to the circumferential distribution of the longitudinal grooves 40 on the shaft 30, ribs 50 are created between these grooves 50, whose maximum radial extensions form the surface of the shaft 30. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the ribs extend both in the region of the shaft 30 facing the attachment surface 20, as well as the region near the free end 60.

For reducing the stress on the hairs draped on the hair-styling device 1, and to prevent the visibility of the device in accordance with the invention under the hairs, the longitudinal grooves 40 are provided with roundings 41 on their side regions. These roundings 41, each has a radius 42, designed such that it creates a very smooth and seamless transition between the grooves 40 and the ribs 50.

The ratio of the longitudinal length L of the hair-styling device 1 according to the invention, to its minimum diameter D_(min), as measured in the region of concavity 32 of its concave-shaped longitudinal section 32, and particularly here at the deepest point 32, is preferably set in such a manner that a push-effect is imparted to the ponytail, which avoids the risk that regions of the device 1 protruding between the draped hairs become visibly recognizable.

Analogously, the depth T_(r) of the longitudinal grooves is designed with respect to the minimum diameter D_(min). Similarly, a ratio is accordingly established between the maximum diameter of the shaft 30 D_(max), measured at the region of maximum outward radial extension of its convex-shaped longitudinal section 35, to the minimum diameter D_(min) in the region of concavity 32 of the concave-shaped longitudinal section 31.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   -   Hair-styling device 1     -   Base body 10     -   Longitudinal Direction 11     -   Attachment Surface 20     -   Concavely Extending Surface Area 21     -   Shaft 30     -   Concave-shaped Longitudinal Section 31     -   Concavity 32     -   Deepest Point 33     -   Turning Point/Point of Inflexion 34     -   Convex-shaped Longitudinal Section 35     -   Longitudinal Groove 40     -   Rounding (on the longitudinal grooves) 41     -   Radius of Rounding 42     -   Ribs 52     -   Free end 60 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair-styling device (1), specifically for shaping and styling a so-called a ponytail, the device having an essentially rotationally symmetrical base body (10), the base body (10) having an attachment surface (20) provided on a front side thereof, for attachment to the head of a person, a shaft (30), having a plurality of longitudinal grooves (40) provided on the surface thereof, the respective longitudinal grooves (40) each extending with at least one component of their extension direction being along a longitudinal direction (11) of the base body, characterized in that the shaft (30) is section-wise concavely formed in the longitudinal section.
 2. Hairstyling device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the attachment surface (20) has a concavely extending surface area (21).
 3. Hair-styling device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the shaft (30) has a minimum diameter D_(min) in a region of deepest point (33) of its concavity (32), and the longitudinal grooves (40) have a depth T_(r) with respect to the surface of the shaft (30), wherein the depth T_(r) to the minimum diameter D_(min) is in the following ratio: T_(r)/D_(min)=0.02 to 0.08.
 4. Hair-styling device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal grooves (40) are rounded in circumferential direction.
 5. Hair-styling device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a convex-shaped longitudinal section (35) adjoins the concave-shaped longitudinal section (31), the shaft (30) having a minimum diameter D_(min) in a region of deepest point (33) of its concavity (32), and having a maximum diameter D_(max) in the region of the convex-shaped longitudinal section (35), wherein the maximum diameter D_(max) to the minimum diameter D_(min) lies in the following ratio: D_(max)/D_(min)=0.6 to 1.5.
 6. Hair-styling device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the hair-styling device has a longitudinal length L, measured along a longitudinal axis of the device, characterized in that the longitudinal length L to the minimum diameter D_(min) lies in the following ratio: 0.9 to 2.1.
 7. Hair-styling device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the material of the hair-styling device is a polymer.
 8. Hair-styling device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the material of the hair-styling device has a shore hardness lying between 20 to 70 Shore A.
 9. Use of the hair-styling device (1) in according with claim 1, for forming a hair-style, specifically a pony tail.
 10. A method for forming a hair-style, specifically a ponytail, wherein, a device for hair-styling (1) in accordance with claim 1 is provided, the device for hair-styling (1) with its attachment surface (20) is applied to the head of a person to be hair-dressed, hairs of the person to be hair-dressed are draped around the hair-styling device (1) in a manner that at least the shaft (30) is essentially completely covered with hairs, and then a tensioning element is positioned to create pressure on the hairs draped onto the device, pushing the hairs radially inwards, in a direction towards the hair-styling device, and wherein the tensioning element may be, for example, a hair tie. 